September 2021 Newsletter

As we say good-bye to Summer and head into the beautiful colors of Autumn and the cool, crisp air, take a moment to enjoy this time and then get back into your studios to continue to prepare for our annual 71st Holiday Fine Art and Craft Festival that will take place on November 6 and November 7, 2021, at the beautiful Kutztown University Campus.   The entire show committee is working hard to get everything in place for this event; we have the caterer, we have the entertainment, the students have been invited for our student gallery and we just want to make sure all our great craftsmen and artists have been notified—We are back!  Please send in your application if it is still on your desk.  Word is Santa does a lot of shopping here!

I hope that I will see  you at our meeting on Tuesday, September 6, at 7:00 PM at the Goggleworks.  Charles Brynan, Tai Chi Master, will be speaking and presenting a demonstration of Tai Chi followed by our business meeting.  Goggleworks has reinstated wearing face masks as of August 18, 2021.   Once you are in our meeting room, you may remove them.

I also want to welcome  Gary Rosborough to our Board.  Gary is our new membership chairperson.  Thank you to Michael Brown for being our membership chairperson for the past several years.

“It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts.”

Our program this month (Sept. 7) will feature Tai-Chi master Charles Brynan. He will talk about how Tai-Chi benefits all persons as we age. Tai-Chi helps with balance and flexibility, a benefit to all ages and even more important as we age. Tai-Chi, while being a martial art, it can also be practiced improving one’s health through meditative motion. This program will introduce us to a far eastern philosophy that has been practiced for centuries.

Work is progressing on our fall show at Kutztown University, Nov. 6th and 7th. Spaces are filling up so don’t miss your chance to join us it what looks to be a great show.  Please get your application in today, space is limited at our 71st fall show. Procrastinators will not be able to enjoy all the show benefits such as being listed in the program and web site.

WE NEED VOLUNTEERS FOR OUR HOLIDAY SHOW, NOV 6 & 7!    

We again need volunteers (experienced or inexperienced) at the Admissions Table, Raffle Table, plus a few smiling Greeters.  We especially need volunteers for Saturday morning, but all positions and time slots are presently available.  Contact Carol Haile soon to secure your preferred job and time slot, inkpencjh@msn.com and/or call 610-374-7048.

2021 STUDENT GALLERY

The Reading-Berks Guild of Craftsmen will again showcase student artisans and emerging artists in its upcoming Holiday Show, Nov. 6 & 7, at the O’Pake Fieldhouse at Kutztown University.  We provide a free table, free electricity (if requested) and the priceless opportunity to showcase and/or sell items in the environment of a well-established, quality show.  More information and application may be found on our website www.rbcrafts.org.  Please direct any questions to Carol Haile, Education Chair, inkpencjh@msn.com

“Your Berks Craftsmen” on September 15, 2021, at 7:00 PM will be airing from the new BCTV studio in downtown Reading at 401 Penn Street, first floor.  “Your Berks Craftsmen” will be featuring Mr. Steve Hunter, show chairperson of our 71st Holiday Fine Art and Craft Festival along with several craftsmen who will be at our festival on November 6 and November 7.  Please tune in to see “You” and your favorite craftsmen in the beautiful new studio.  You can always catch it on Reading-Berks Guild of Craftsmen’s website and YouTube.

If you haven’t already done so, please, please donate to BCTV’s Octoberfest Auction with one of your amazing crafts.  The items will be posted on their website by the end of this month so it is important to try and get them to BCTV so the items will go on the block.  BCTV will continue to take donated items for their auction during October but it would be great to get them in by the end of September.  Please bring your item(s) to our general meeting on September 6 and I will take them to BCTV or you can take them to BCTV at 401 Penn Street or call BCTV at 610 374-3065 to arrange for someone to pick up your item(s).  I cannot emphasize how important BCTV is to our Reading-Berks Guild of Craftsmen chapter, and their friendship and commitment to us is unwavering.  It has been a couple of tough years for everyone but I know with your help we can help BCTV’s Octoberfest Auction (their once a year fundraiser) be great.

Thanks everyone!  Reading-Berks Guild is the best!!! …

The next jury session is scheduled for Tues, Sept 14, 2021 at the Goggleworks. Members who have belonged to our chapter for a minimum of 3 months are eligible to present their work for jurying. The room will be open at 6:30, and jurying will begin at 7:00. Members will be asked to leave before jurying begins, and can return in 1- 1 1/2 hours for the results. Check the board at the entrance of the Goggleworks for the room #. For more information or for an application, go to https://rbcrafts.org/resources or contact Louise at eglassplace@gmail.com.

The JCC/M committee is offering a challenge to all Chapters to display their collaboration on “Water”.  Each chapter may submit up to three works of art for the competition.  Each work must have a minimum of 3 members collaborating on each piece.  The work of art size must be no smaller than 3” x 3” x 3” but no larger than 18” x 18” x18”.  No entries will be accepted after April 1, 2022.